Lampholder for fluorescent lamps



y 1968 G. JOHNSON LAMPHOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 9, 1965 FIG. 5.

FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

savage- Jam/ 0M 07709418) 7 \fia/ May 21, 1968 G. JOHNSON LAMPHOLDER FORFLUORESCENT LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1965 wdl INVENTOR.GEOPGE JOHNSOA/ United States Patent 0 3,384,858 LAMPHQLDER FURFLUORESCENT LAMPS George Johnson, Bronxville, N.Y., assignor to KulkaElectric Corporation, Mount Vernon, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 446,972 12 Claims. (Cl. 339-52) AESTRACT 0FTHE BISCLGSURE A fluorescent lampholder of the tombstone type having atits lower end self-contained mounting means for snap-locking securementof the lampholder to a fixture wall from one side thereof. The bottomwall of the lampholder has a depending base portion of reducedcrosssectional area and sized to fit snugly within a mounting opening inthe fixture wall when the bottom wall rests flush against the outersurface of said fixture wall, while a retaining flange projecting fromthe lower end of the lampholder engages the inner surface of the fixturewall and a spring clip secured to the lampholder remote from theretaining flange snaps through the mounting opening and engages theinner surface of the fixture wall to rigidly hold the lampholder inmounted position.

This invention relates to improvements in lampholders for double-endedgaseous discharge lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, and relates inparticular to lampholders of this type having self-contained mountingmeans.

The invention is particularly concerned with fluorescent lampholderscommonly referred to as the tombstone type because of their physicalresemblance to tombstones. Such a lampholder normally has a rectangularbase adapted to be secured to a fixture wall, and an upstandingdome-shaped body member containing a recess or socket for receiving oneend of the fluorescent lamp. One tombstone lampholder assembly consistof a pair of lampholders mounted in spaced relationship on the fixturewall with the sockets aligned and facing each other. One of thelampholders is compressible, having a spring-loaded plunger containingthe lamp socket for permitting a lamp to be inserted between thelmpholders and to be held in this inserted position under springtension. In mounted position, the lamp is parallel to the fixture wallupon which the lampholders are mounted and the lampholders areperpendicular to the wall.

Fluorescent lampholders have conventionally been mounted on the walls offixtures by means of screws. Quite recently, the trend has been toprovide self-locking mounting means for the lampholders which permitsrapid assembly without requiring the use of screws or other separatefasteners. For example, in the patent to Eugene R. Kulka, Patent No.3,116,098, issued Dec. 31, 1963, there is shown a pair of butt-on typelampholders having self-contained spring mounting clips which provide asnap-locking action by means of which the lampholders may be instantlymounted on opposed fixture walls. Such mounting clips performsatisfactorily for lampholders of the butt-on type, since the axialbiasing force upon the lamp is applied in a directional normal to thefixture walls so that it is absorbed by the wall itself. In thetombstone type of lampholder, however, the biasing force on the lamp isapplied to the lampholder body which is perpendicularly upstanding fromthe wall, tending to cause the lampholder to tilt.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lampholderassembly of the tombstone type in which the lampholders are providedwith self-contained spring mounting means so arranged as to permit thelampholder Patented May 21, 1968 ice base to be conveniently mounted andremoved from a fixture wall with a snap locking action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lampholder assembly ofthe character described in which the base of each lampholder is soconstructed as to provide a rigid and secure mount for the lampholder incooperation with the aforesaid spring means.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lampholderof the tombstone type having a body including a flat bottom wall, and abase portion depending from said bottom Wall and sized to fit snuglywithin the mounting opening of a fixture wall. The lampholder also has alaterally-projecting retaining flange extending parallel to and spacedbelow the bottom wall of said body portion, and a spring clip projectingfrom said base portion at a point remote from said retaining flange insuch a manner that when the base portion is inserted in said mountingopening the retaining flange underlies the fixture wall and the springclip engages a remote portion of the fixture wall to hold the lamp in amounted position upright on the fixture wall.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparentduring the course of the following specification when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compressible lamp holder made inaccordance with the present invention, the lamp holder being shown ininverted position and in the course of being mounted on a fixture wall;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the lampholder shown in FIG. 1, showingthe lampholder mounted on the fixture wall which is partially brokenaway to expose the lampholder;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View of the lampholder of FIG. 1 shownmounted in inverted position on the fixture wall which is shown insection and in full line; the fixture wall being also shown in phantomto illustrate the position in which the lampholder is inserted into andremoved from the mounting opening in the fixture wall;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of lampholder madein accordance with the present invention and shown mounted in invertedposition on a fixture wall, with portions of the lampholder broken awayand shown in section to reveal inner structural details;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the lampholder of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of still another modified form oflampholder shown mounted on a fixture wall in inverted position;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the lampholder of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a pair of lampholders mounted on afixture wall with a fluorescent lamp mounted between the lampholders andwith portions thereof shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the compressible lampholder with aportion of the casing broken away to reveal inner constructional detail;and

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the stationary lamp holder shown in FIG.8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 8, thereis shown a lampholder assembly comprising a pair of spaced lampholdcrs10 and 12 mounted upon a wall 14 of a lamp fixture. Between thelampholders 1G and 12 is mounted a lamp 16 of the fluorescent type,having a tubular glass envelope 18 with contact heads 20 and 22 at eachend.

The lampholder 10 constitutes the compressible lampholder of theassembly, having a depressible spring-biased plunger 24 permittingmounting of the lamp 16 between the lampholders, and retaining the lampsecurely in its iounted position. The lampholder 12 consttiutes thestationary lampholder of the assembly. The lampholders are of thetombstone type and are mounted on the fixture wall 14 with their frontwalls, containing the lamp socket recesses, normal to the plane of saidfixture wall and facing each other in the usual spaced relationship, Inthe drawings, the lampholders and 12 are shown mounted in invertedposition and depending from the fixture wall 14.

The stationary lampholder 12, shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, includes a moldedbody 26 made of electrically-insulating material such as a urea plasticand having a lower portion of rectangular cross-section and anarch-shaped upper portion, in the usual manner of tombstone typelampholders. The body 26 has a front wall 28 containing a recessedsocket 30 for receiving the projecting terminal portion (not shown)carried by the lamp head 22. Mounted in the socket 30 are contactmembers 32 for engaging and making electrical contact with the lampterminals carried by lamp head 22, in the manner described in theaforementioned U.S. Patent No. 3,116,098. Lampholder body 26 also hasopposed side walls 33 and a planar bottom wall 34. The socket 30 may bebordered by a resilient ring 35 affixed to the front. wall 28 as bycementing, and serving as a water-tight seal for the socket and insertedlamp terminals, when the lampholder assembly is employed for outdooruse.

The compressible lampholder 10 has a molded body 36 of similar archshape, including sidewalls 37, a front wall 38, and a planar bottom wall39. The front wall 38 is formed with an opening 40 for receiving theslidable plunger 24. As shown in FIG. 8, an internal spring 42 urges theplunger 24 to the outwardly-projecting position shown. The plunger 24 isof cylindrical shape having a recessed socket 44 in the front wallthereof for receiving the projecting terminal portion carried by lamphead 20. Mounted within socket 44 are contact members 45 for makingelectrical contact with the lamp terminals carried by said lamp head 20.A resilient sealing ring or gasket 46 may border the socket 44 in theplunger 24, as shown.

The assembly heretofore described is conventional and well-known, thelampholders 10 and 12 being mounted on the fixture wall 14 in spacedrelationship and with the respective sockets 30 and 44 aligned andfacing each other. To mount the lamp 16 between the lampholders 10 and12, the terminal portion of lamp head 20 is first inserted in the socketportion 44 of plunger 24, and the lamp is then moved toward the left, asviewed in FIG. 8, to slide the plunger 24 inwardly of the lampholder 10against the biasing force of spring 42, until the opposite lamp head 22is clear of the front wall 28 of stationary lampholder 12. The terminalportion of head 22 is then inserted into the socket 30 of lampholder 12and the lamp is released, being firmly held between the lampholders bythe force of spring 42. The lamp is removed from its mounted position bymanually moving it to the left to depress plunger 24 until the head 22is clear of the stationary lampholder 12, tilting the lamp until thehead 22 is out of alignment with lampholder 12, and then withdrawing thehead 20 from plunger 24.

Ordinarily, tombstone lampholders of this type are formed for receivingmounting screws by means of which the lampholders may be mounted on afixture wall. The present invention is concerned with a novel type ofbase of reduced area provided with self-contained mounting means bymeans of which each lampholder can be instantly mounted on the fixturewall with a snap-locking action. Since the identical base and mountingmeans is provided on both the compressible lampholder 10 and stationarylampholder 12, a description of this structure as applied to thecompressible lampholder 10 will serve equally for the stationarylampholder 12.

As shown in FIG. 8, the fixture wall 14 is provided with a pair ofidentical spaced mounting openings 50 sized to receive the base portionsof the respective lampholders 10 and 12, for mounting the lampholders onsaid fixture wall. FIG. 1 shows a preferred shape of mounting opening50, and FIGS. 1-4 illustrate in detail a preferred form of mountingassembly for lampholder 10 which is employed with a mounting opening ofthis shape. The mounting opening 50 shown in FIG. 1 is of generallycircular shape but has a straight edge 52 at one side thereof to preventrotation of the mounted lampholder therein. The mounting openings 50 arepreferably arranged in the fixture wall 14 with their straight edges 52facing each other. Each mounting opening 50 is of considerably lesserarea than the bottom wall 34 or 39 of its respective lampholder body.

Depending from the bottom wall 39 of the body 36 of compressiblelampholder 10 is an integral base portion 54 sized to fit substantiallysnugly within the mounting opening 50 and best shown in FIG. 1. The baseportion 54 has a semi-circular rear edge 56 and a flat front edge 58.The shape of base portion 54 conforms to that of the mounting opening50, except that the base portion is provided with a pair of opposedangular cut-away sections 60 and 62 at the region adjacent the junctureof the front edge 58 with the arcuate rear edge 56. These cutaway sections permit the base portion 54 to be inserted anguraly within themounting opening 50 in a manner to be presently described.

A metallic plate 64 is mounted at the front of lampholder body 36 bymeans of a rivet 66. A shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower front surfaceof the lampholder body 36 is recessed at 68 to receive the plate 64 suchthat the front surface of plate 64 is flush with the front wall 38 oflampholder body 36. The plate 64 has a bottom wall 70 which registerswith the bottom wall 39 of lampholder body 36, side walls 72 whichregister with the side walls 37 of lampholder 36, and an arcuate topedge 74 which embraces the lower portion of plunger 24.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the plunger 24 is formed with a semi-circularflange 76 which projects radially from the lower rear end of saidplunger to act as a stop to prevent forward movement of the springbiased plunger out of the lampholder 10. The opening 40 in the frontwall of lampholder body 36 has an arcuate upper portion 40a sized to fitclosely about the corresponding portion of plunger 24, and an enlargedlower portion 40b sized to permit passage of the plunger flange 76therethrough as shown in FIG. 9, so that the plunger 24 can be assembledfrom the front of the lampholder body 36. After the plunger 24 is thusassembled, the plate 64 is secured to the front of the lampholder body,and its arcuate top edge 74, forms with the arcuate upper portion 40a ofopening 40 a complete circular opening closely surrounding the plunger24 and serving to guide its longitudinal sliding movement in thelampholder body 36. In the mounted position of plate 64, its upperportion adjacent the top edge 74 overlies the plunger flange 76 and isengaged thereby in the extended position of plunger 24, as show in FIG.8.

Formed integrally with the plate 24, and depending from the centralportion of the bottom wall 39 thereof, is an L-shaped bracket 78 havinga short leg 80 contiguous and co-planar with the plate 24, and a longerleg or retaining flange 82 which is substantially perpendicular to theleg 76 and extends forwardly thereof. The included angle between thelegs 80 and 82 is actually slightly less than as shown in FIG. 3, for apurpose to be presently explained.

The lower rear end of lampholder body 36 is formed with a central slot84 which extends through the rear wall and bottom wal ofs aid body, Aslot 86 extending through the rear wall and bottom wall of the baseportion 54, and having an inclined forward wall 86a as shown in FIG. 4,registers with and communicates with the slot 84 as an extensionthereof. A spring clip 88 is mounted within the slots 84 and 86, theclip 88 having an angularly-bent free end portion 90. The straight endportion of the spring clip 88 is mounted flush against the inner,forward wall of slot 84 by rivet 66 and extends into slot 86, with thebent end 90 projecting outwardly of slot 86 and normally spaced from theinclined wall 86a thereof as shown in FIG. 4.

The lampholder base portion 54 is formed with a pair of through slots 92and 94 which communicate with aligned apertures in the bottom wall 39 oflampholder body 36 to provide entry for a pair of insulated electricalleads 95 and 96. Said leads 95 and 96 extend within the interior of thelampholder body and are electrically connected to the contact members 48in socket 44.

The broken line representation of wall 14 in FIG. 3 illustrates themanner in which the lampholder is mounted on said wall. The lampholder10 is tilted forwardly relative to wall 14 and the bracket retainingflange 82 is inserted within the mounting opening 50 and slid frowardlyuntil the short leg 80 is adjacent the straight edge 52 and theretaining leg 52 underlies the fixture wall 14 beyond said straightedge. In this position, the lampholder base portion 54 is aligned withthe mounting opening 50 and positioned to enter said mounting openingwhen the lampholder 10 is turned perpendicular to the wall 14. As thebase portion 54 enters the mounting opening 50, the angularly bent endportion 90 of spring clip 88 engages the rear edge of mounting opening50 and is passed thereby into slot 86, thereby permitting the rear ofbase portion 54 and the bent spring portion 90 to pass through mountingopening 50. The cut-away side sections 60 and 62 of the base portion 54provide sufiicient clea ance to permit said base portion to be movedangularly through the circular portion of mounting opening 50.

In the upright mounted position of lampholder 10, the bottom wall 39 oflampholder body 36 rests flat upon the upper surface of fixture wall 14,and the depending "base portion 54 extends snugly through the mountingopening 50. Once the lampholder body 36 is in upright position uponfixture wall 14, as shown in full line in FIG. 3, the bracket retainingflange 82 underlies the wall 14 and is substantially flush therewith,and the angular end portion 90 of spring clip 88 snaps outwardly of slotto a position in which it partially underlies the wall 14 rearwardly ofthe curved edge of mounting opening 50. The portion of the spring clip88 immediately adjacent the angular end portion 90 engages the rear edgeof the mounting opening 50, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, urging thelampholder 10 in a forward direction so that the L-shaped bracket 78 isheld in firm engagement with the fixture wall 14.

When the lamp 16 is inserted between the lampholders 10 and 12, the lamppresses rearwardly against lampholder 10 exerting a force which wouldtend to tilt said lampholder rearwardly in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 8 about the rear bottom edge of lampholder body 36. Theflange 82 of bracket 78, however, by its engagement with the undersurface of fixture wall 14, prevents such tilting movement.

To detach the lampholder 10 from the fixture wall 14, it is onlynecessary to pull vertically upon the lampholder body 36. This willcause the lampholder 10 to tilt in a counterclockwise direction aboutthe point of contact between the bracket 78 and the edge of mountingopening 50, so that the bent end portion 90 of spring clip 88 is pressedwithin the slot 86 and passes through the mounting spring.

As was previously indicated, the forwardly-extending bracket retainingflange 82 forms an angle of slightly less than 90 with the bracket leg80, so that in mounted position it forms a slight angle with the fixturewall 14, as shown in FIG. 4. This provides a self-adjusting feature forthe mounting means to compensate for variations in thicknesses offixture walls. To permit such self-adjustment, the aperture 98 in plate64, through which rivet 66 passes, is made of appreciably largerdiameter than said rivet 66. if the lampholder 10 is inserted in amounting opening of a fixture wall of greater thickness than the lengthof the short bracket leg 80, and turned to an upright position on saidfixture wall, engagement of the bracket flange 82 with the under surfaceof the wall will exert a longitudinal pull on the plate 64, causing theplate 64 to move downwardly along the front surface of the lampholderbody 36, as permitted by the enlarged aperture 98. This downwardmovement of the plate 64 (and integral bracket 78) will locate thebracket flanges 82 at the proper position to bear against the lowersurface of the thick fixture wall in the mounted position of thelamp-holder.

As previously described, the stationary lampholder 12 is provided withidentical mounting means, as shown in FIGS. 8 and -'l0. Lampholder i12is shaped identically to lampholder 10, having an identical base portion54, a recessed spring clip 88, and a front plate 64 carrying the Lshaped mounting bracket 78. The plate 64 overlies the front wall 26 ofthe body 26 of the lampholder 12, and partially borders the socket 30therein, but in this instance, of course, does not act as a stop tolimit movement of a plunger. The lampholder 12 is mounted in anidentical mounting opening 50' in fixture wall 14, in the mannerdescribed above.

'FIG. 5 shows a compressible lampholder having a modified form ofmounting means constructed for insertion in a rectangular mountingopening in fixture wall 114. In this instance, the lampholder baseportion 154 is formed of rectangular cross-section, conforming in shapeto said mounting opening 150. The lampholder 110 has a front plate 164carrying an L-shaped mounting bracket [178, and a rear spring clip 188which are identical to those previously described and operate in thesame manner. Since the mounting opening 150 is rectangular, the cut-awayside sections 60 and 62 of the previous-lydescribed lampholder 10 arenot required and are omitted in this embodiment.

It will be appreciated that the positions of the L- shaped bracket andthe spring clip can be reversed if desired, that is to say the springclip may be mounted at the front of the lampholder and the L-shapedbracket \may be at the rear thereof.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a reversed arrangement, with the added feature that aseparate plate and L-shaped bracket are omited and a mounting flange isformed integrally with the lampholder body.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a compressible lampholder 210 having abody portion 236 of rectangular cross-section, with a base portion 254formed integrally with the depending from the bottom wall 239 of bodyportion 236. The base portion 254 is also rectangular in cross-sectionbut has a lesser area than the bottom wall 239, as shown in FIG. 7. Awide rectangular retaining flange 282 is formed integrally with andprojects rearwardly from the base portion 254.

A metallic plate 264 is secured to the front Wall surface of lampholderbody 236, the plate 264 being similar to plate 64 previously describedexcept that instead of carrying an L-shaped bracket, it carriescentrally at its bottom edge a spring clip 288 having an angularly bentfree end portion 290. The free end portion 290 of spring clip 288 isformed somewhat differently from the aforementioned spring clip 88,having an arm 291 extending perpendicularly from plate 264 and restingupon the inner surface of fixture wall 14 to support the lampholder 210against rearward tilting movement. Otherwise, the spring clip 288 servesthe same purpose as spring clip 88 previously described, snapping intoholding position when the lampholder 210 is inserted in mounted positionwithin mounting opening 250. An angular slot 286 formed in the frontsurface of lampholder body 236, permits inward movement of the springclip bent portion 290.

The lampholder 210 is mounted in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed. Lampholder 210 is tilted forwardly, and the retaining flange282 inserted within the rectangular mounting opening 250 in fixture wall214. The

lampholder body is then turned to the upright position shown in FIG. 6so that the flange 282 rests flush against the under surface of fixturewall 14 and the base portion 254 projects through the mounting opening250. In arriving at this position, the bent end portion 290 of springclip 288 is pressed into the slot 286, and when the lampholder reachesits upright position, the spring clip portion 290 snaps out of the slot286 and engages the lower surface of the fixture wall 214 adjacent themounting opening 250.

It will be observed that in this embodiment, since the mounting flange282 is formed integrally with the lampholder body and is not carried bya moveable plate, it is formed truly perpendicular to the axis of thelampholder body, so that it rests fiat against the under surface offixture wall 214. It will also be appreciated that other variations maybe made in the location of the mounting flange and spring clip; forexample, a pair of spring clips may be mounted at either side of thelampholder body so as to engage the sides of the mounting opening, or inthe alternative the mounting flange and spring clip may be locatedopposite each other at the sides of the lampholder base portion insteadof at the front and rear thereof.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it is obvious that numerous omissions, changes andadditions may be made in such embodiments without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A fluorescent lampholder comprising an elongated housing adapted tobe mounted in upstanding position on the outer surface of a fixture wallfor supporting one end of a fluorescent lamp, said fixture wall having amounting opening, said housing including a flat bottom wall ofsubstantially greater cross-sectional area than said mounting openingand a front wall normal to and upstanding from said bottom wall, socketmeans in said front wall sized to receive one end of said fluorescentlamp, a longitudinally extending base portion depending from said bottomwall, said base portion being of lesser cross-sectional area than saidbottom wall and being sized to fit snugly within the mounting opening ofsaid fixture wall when the lampholder housing is brought to a mountedposition in which its bottom wall overlies said mounting opening andrests flush upon the outer surface of said fixture wall, a retainingmember carried by said housing and projecting laterally from said baseportion in a direction parallel to the axis of said socket means, and atleast one spring clip carried by said lampholder housing and having aportion normally biased outwardly of said base portion and spaced fromsaid retaining member, said retaining member being sized for insertionthrough said mounting opening from the outer surface of said fixturewall with said retaining member underlying and engaging the innersurface said fixture wall adjacent said mounting opening and said springclip portion engaging the edge of said mounting opening in the mountedposition of said lampholder housing to maintain said housing inupstanding position on said fixture wall.

2. A fluorescent lampholder comprising an elongated housing adapted tobe mounted in upstanding position on the outer surface of a fixture wallfor supporting one end of a fluorescent lamp, said fixture wall having amounting opening, said housing including a flat bottom wall ofsubstantially greater cross-sectional area than said mounting openingand a longitudinal front wall normal to and upstanding from said bottomwall, socket means in said front wall sized to receive one end of saidfluorescent lamp, a longitudinally extending base portion depending fromsaid bottom wall, said base portion being of lesser crosssectional areathan said bottom wall and being sized to fit snugly within the mountingopening of said fixture wall when the lampholder body is brought to amounted position in which its bottom wall overlies said mounting openingand rests flush upon the outer surface of said fixture wall, a retainingflange car ried by said housing and projecting laterally from said baseportion in a direction parallel to the axis of said socket means, arecess formed in said base portion at a point remote from said retainingflange, and at least one spring clip carried by said lampholder body andhaving an end portion normally biased outwardly of said recess, saidretaining flange being sized for insertion through said mounting openingfrom the direction of the outer surface of said fixture wall with thelampholder housing tilted relative to the fixture wall, the end portionof said spring clip engaging the edge of said mounting opening and beingpressed thereby into said recess as the lampholder housing is turnedtoward an upright position on said fixture wall and being biased out ofsaid recess into engagement with the edge of said mounting opening whenthe lampholder housing reaches its upright mounted position, whereby tohold said lampholder body in said upright mounted position with theretaining flange underlying and engaging the inner surface of saidfixture wall adjacent said mounting opening, the housing bottom walloverlying and engaging the outer surface of said fixture wall, and thebase portion extending within and through said mounting opening.

3. A fluorescent lampholder according to claim 2 in which said retainingflange is formed integrally with said base portion and extends parallelto and below the bottom wall of said lampholder housing.

4. A fluorescent lampholder according to claim 2 in which said retainingflange is integral with a plate secured to the front wall of saidlampholder housing.

5. A fluorescent lampholder according to c1aim'4 in which said recess islocated at the rear of said base portion opposite to said retainingflange.

6. A fluorescent lampholder comprising a body adapted to be mounted inupstanding position on a fixture wall for supporting one end of afluorescent lamp, said fixture wall having a mounting opening, said bodyincluding a flat bottom wall and a front wall normal to and upstandingfrom said bottom wall, socket means in said front wall sized to receiveone end of said fluorescent lamp, a base portion depending from saidbottom wall and sized to fit snugly within the mounting opening of saidfixture wall then the lampholder body is brought to a mounted positionin which its bottom wall overlies said mounting opening and rests flushupon said fixture wall, a plate mounted on the lower portion of saidfront wall beneath said socket means, a retaining flange carried by saidplate and projecting forwardly from the lower end thereof, and at leastone spring clip carried by said lampholder body and having a portionnormally biased outwardly of said base portion and spaced from,

said retaining flange, said retaining flange underlying and engaging thelower surface of said fixture wall adjacent said mounting opening andsaid spring clip portion engaging the edge of said mounting opening inthe mounted position of said lampholder body to maintain said body inupstanding position on said fixture wall.

7. A fluorescent lampholder according to claim 6 in which said retainingflange projects forwardly from said plate at an angle slightly less thanand in which said plate is mounted for limitedrsliding movement on saidfront wall, whereby to adjust for mounting on fixture walls of varyingthicknesses.

8. A fluorescent lampholder comprising a body adapted to be mounted inupstanding position on a fixture wall for supporting one end of afluorescent lamp, said fixture wall having a mounting opening, said bodyinclud ing a flat bottom wall and a front wall normal to and upstandingfrom said bottom wall, socket means in said front wall sized to receiveone end of said fluorescent lamp, a base portion depending from saidbottom wall and sized to fit snugly within the mounting opening of saidfixture, wall when the lampholder body is brought to a mounted positionin which its bottom wall overlies said mounting opening and rests flushupon said fixture wall, a plate mounted on the lower portion of saidfront wall beneath said socket means, a retaining flange carried by saidplate and projecting forwardly from the lower end thereof, a slot formedin the rear of said base portion, and at least one spring clip mountedon said lampholder body at the rear portion thereof opposite said plateand having an angular free end portion in registry with said slot andnormally biased outwardly thereof so as to project from said baseportion, said retaining flange underlying and engaging the lower surfaceof said fixture wall adjacent the front of said mounting opening andsaid spring clip portion engaging the rear edge of said mounting openingin the mounted position of said lampholder body to maintain said body inupstanding position on said fixture Wall.

9. In a fluorescent lampholder having a body including a lamp-receivingsocket portion and a planar bottom face, a snap-fitting mountingassembly for retaining said lampholder on a fixture wall having amounting opening therein, in a mounted position in which the bottom faceof the lampholder body rests flat upon the outer surface of said fixturewall and the axis of said socket portion is substantially parallel tosaid fixture wall, said mounting assembly including a base portion ofreduced crosssectional area depending from the bottom face of saidlampholder body and sized to fit snugly within said mounting openingwhen the bottom face of said lampholder is brought flush against theouter surface of said fixture wall in the mounted position of saidlampholder, a retaining member projecting laterally from said lampholderand sized for insertion through said mounting opening, said retainingmember being substantially parallel to the bottom face of saidlampholder body and being spaced therebelow to engage the inner surfaceof said fixture wall in the mounted position of said lampholder, and aspring clip mounted on said lampholder body and having a free endportion normally biased to a holding position in which it projectsoutwardly of said base portion at a point remote from said retainingmember.

10. In a fluorescent lampholder having a body including a front wallcarrying a lamp-receiving socket portion and a planar bottom face, asnap-fitting mounting assembly for retaining said lampholder on afixture wall having a mounting opening therein when the lampholder isassembled from one side of said fixture wall to a mounted position inwhich the bottom face of the lampholder body rests flat upon the outersurface of said fixture wall and the axis of said socket portion issubstantially parallel to said fixture wall, said mounting assemblyincluding a base portion depending from the bottom face of saidlampholder body and sized to fit snugly within said mounting opening inthe mounted position of said lampholder, a retaining flange projectinglaterally from said lampholder, said retaining flange beingsubstantially parallel to the bottom face of said lampholder body andbeing spaced therebelow to engage the inner surface of said fixture wallin the mounted position of said lampholder, a recess formed in a portionof said base portion remote from said retaining flange, and a springclip mounted on said lampholder body and having an angularly-bent freeend portion normally biased to a holding position in which it projectsoutwardly of said recess, the free end portion of said clip beingpressed into said recess when the lampholder base portion is insertedinto said mounting opening, and snapping outwardly of said recess tooverlie and engage the inner surface of said fixture wall in the mountedposition of said lampholder.

11. A mounting assembly according to claim 10 in which said retainingflange projects forwardly of the front wall of said lampholder body andsaid spring clip is mounted on the rear portion of said lampholder body.

12. A mounting assembly according to claim 10 in which said retainingflange projects rearwardly from said lampholderbody and said spring clipis mounted at the front of said lampholder with the free end portionthereof normally projecting forwardly of said front wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,794,962 6/1957 Donato 339l282,916,675 12/1959 Middendorf 339128 X 3,111,353 11/1963 Nelson.3,116,098 12/1963 Kulka 339128 X 3,260,986 7/1966 Staffel.

FOREIGN PATENTS 237,103 11/1964 Austria.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner.

